Ms. Cao Thi Chinh, a worker at Long Cuong Co., Ltd., Ho Chi Minh City, said that following the exchange and discussion program between the Prime Minister and delegates attending the 14th Vietnam Trade Union Congress for the term 2026 - 2031, she saw that both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Health emphasized the health care program for people in general and workers in particular.
We workers are very happy to see the Party and State's views on taking care of workers' health," Ms. Chinh said.
According to Ms. Chinh, in the past time, the Ho Chi Minh City Trade Union organization has proactively implemented many long-term welfare programs, focusing on taking care of the health of union members and workers (NLĐ). Notably, there is a free cervical cancer screening program for tens of thousands of female workers in export processing zones and industrial parks. Early detection of pathological signs has helped many women receive timely treatment, maintain their working capacity and protect family happiness.
Recently, the Ho Chi Minh City Trade Union also coordinated with the City Department of Health to launch a program to care for the health of 1 million workers, in which priority is given to female union members, workers working in heavy, hazardous environments, people who have not had periodic health check-ups for 12 months, union members, workers in difficult circumstances, and direct production workers.
Ms. Chinh believes that reality shows that the needs of workers today are not only limited to regular medical examinations but also need a more specialized and comprehensive care system. For female workers, it is necessary to focus on taking care of reproductive health and mental health.
In which, regarding reproductive health, there needs to be a program to shift from general examination to in-depth screening because female workers in the textile, garment, footwear, and electronics industries regularly work in an industrial environment, with constrained working postures, directly affecting reproductive function. Therefore, there needs to be more detailed screening packages for gynecological diseases, pre-marital counseling support and sustainable pregnancy care.
In addition, according to scientists, mental health is an urgent issue but has not been given due attention. Female workers are currently under double pressure from the high intensity of work at the factory and the responsibility of taking care of their families. These pressures, if not relieved in time, will lead to depression and weakness, so it is very necessary to pilot psychological counseling rooms in industrial parks or online mental health support applications for union members.
Therefore, Ms. Chinh proposed that it is necessary to build a list of in-depth health check-ups and medical examination package standards for female workers higher than the basic level of labor law and coordinate with specialized hospitals and reputable medical facilities to have the most preferential prices for workers through trade union health welfare programs.
